Disposable iontophoresis system and tympanic membrane pain inhibition method

• US 9,387,124 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2007
• Issued: 07/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tusker Medical, Inc. (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: Tusker Medical, Inc. (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Clifford, Anton
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons, Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, SHEFALI DILIP
• Application Number:
  US11/749,729
• Publication Number:
  US 20080262510A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,345 Days
• Field of Search: 604/20, 604/21, 604/500, 604/501, 604/506, 604/512, 604/514, 604/93.01
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00082 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/227 for ears, i.e. otoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00787 Surgery of the ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0077 Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/202 Surgical middle-ear ventilation or drainage, e.g. permanent; Implants therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0039 H-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0052 T-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0039 differing in diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0082 specially designed for children, e.g. having means for adjusting to their growth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0662 Ears
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/00 Devices for introducing or retaining media, e.g. remedies, in cavities of the body A61M25/00 takes precedence ; introducing or retaining ophthalmic products into the ocular cavities A61F9/0008
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/30 Apparatus for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body, or cataphoresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/306 Arrangements where at least part of the apparatus is introduced into the body

Abstract

Systems and methods for treating a patient having an ear canal and a target tissue function by positioning a fluid or a gel in the ear canal, the fluid or the gel comprising a therapeutic agent; retaining the fluid or the gel with a support structure, the support structure supporting an electrode and a battery; and applying the therapeutic agent from the fluid or the gel to the target tissue by energizing the electrode with an iontophoresis potential from the battery.

Claims

1. A method for treating a patient, the patient having an ear canal and a target tissue including a tympanic membrane, the method comprising:

introducing a fluid to the ear canal through a supply lumen extending through a fluid barrier;

positioning the fluid in the ear canal, the fluid comprising a therapeutic agent;

retaining the fluid with a support structure comprising the fluid barrier, the support structure supporting an electrode and a battery;

coupling the support structure with an audio or video track;

applying the therapeutic agent from the fluid to the target tissue by energizing the electrode with an iontophoresis potential from the battery;

synchronizing the audio or video track with a noise created by a therapeutic treatment; and

imaging the target tissue through the fluid barrier.

2. A method for treating a patient, the patient having an ear canal and a target tissue including a tympanic membrane, the method comprising:

introducing a fluid to the ear canal through a supply lumen extending through a fluid barrier;

positioning the fluid in the ear canal, the fluid comprising a therapeutic agent;

retaining the fluid with a support structure comprising the fluid barrier, the support structure supporting an electrode and a battery;

coupling the support structure with an audio or video track;

applying the therapeutic agent from the fluid to the target tissue by energizing the electrode with an iontophoresis potential from the battery;

synchronizing the audio or video track with a noise created by a therapeutic treatment;

imaging the target tissue through the fluid barrier; and

perforating the tympanic membrane with reference to an image from imaging the target tissue through the fluid barrier.